Second Kings 22.1 | A Young King
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

Thirty-one years is a long reign, but how long did he truly function as king?

It would have been when he was a teenager or in his twenties.

How old was he when he died?

He was only 39 years old when he died.

Something must have happened that he died prematurely.

Hezekiah was supposed to have died at this age, but the Lord added 15 years to his life, whereas Josiah should have lived longer.

Second Kings 22.2 | A Faithful King
2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

What three things does the Bible say of Josiah’s reign?

He did what was right in God’s sight.

He walked in all the ways of David.

He did not stray to either side.

What does it mean not to go to the right hand or to the left?

Second Kings 22.3–7 | Repairing the House of the Lord
3 Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the LORD; let them give it to those who are in the house of the LORD doing the work, to repair the damages of the house— 6 to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7 However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.”

Here the Bible shows us an event as a prelude to another more significant event.

King Josiah had enough education to know that this was the house of the Lord and that it should be in good condition.

He also trusted those in charge of the house and those working on it.

Now let’s see one of the most remarkable discoveries in the Bible.

Second Kings 22.8–10 | Someone Found a Book
8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the LORD.” 10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

Can you imagine such a scenario in Israel?

How or why had they been operating in the house of the Lord without His written directions?

How did such a situation arise?

Did Shaphan know what Hilkiah had discovered or the significance of it?

When Shaphan showed the king the Book, do you think Shaphan really did not know the significance of the Book or was he using the dramatic effect of understating something to emphasize just how great it was?

Second Kings 22.11–13 | A Tender Heart Before the Word
11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

This is what made Josiah a great king.

He responded to the word as anyone should.

He could see the relevance of the text.

No doubt he could not only see what the Scriptures said, but he saw it fulfilled in the captivity of the Northern Kingdom.

Therefore, he knew the same catastrophe headed for Judah.

What did he expect when he sent the men to inquire of the Lord?

Compare this with his sons response to the Scriptures in Jeremiah 36.

Second Kings 22.14–20 | He Should Have Died in Peace
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. 15 Then she said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read— 17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched. 18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Concerning the words which you have heard— 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the LORD. 20 Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” So they brought back word to the king.

God did uses prophetesses, but not many.

What did she reveal?

The Lord was bringing calamity upon Judah.

He was bringing the calamity because

they had forsaken the Lord,

they burned incense to other gods, and

they provoked Him to anger.

The wrath of the Lord had already been aroused and could not be stopped, only delayed.

Why should Josiah have died in peace, and why would he not see the calamity?